The DfE have recently reinforced the need “to create and enforce a clear and rigorous expectation on all schools to promote the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs.”

The government set out its definition of British values in the 2011 Prevent Strategy, and these values have been reiterated by the Prime Minister this year.

Democracy

The rule of law

Individual liberty

Mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs

At Radleys, these values are reinforced regularly and in the following ways:

Democracy:

Democracy is an integral part of our school. Pupils have the opportunity to have their voices heard through our Pupil Council and Pupil questionnaires. The elections of councillors and Junior Health & Safety representatives are based solely on the democratic process, with children writing personal profiles, giving speeches and elections then occurring. During election years, children in Y6 carry out a ‘mock election’, with prospective candidates writing manifestos, campaigning and KS2 voting for their chosen candidate. Our school behaviour policy involves rewards which the pupils vote on as a class. The majority of policies are debated widely and incorporate pupil voice as children, parents, governors and staff work together to put policy into practice. Our curriculum is also decided by children. Each term, the children vote for their class topic.

The Rule of Law:

The importance of laws, whether they be those that govern the class, the school, or the country, are consistently reinforced throughout regular school lessons, as well as when discussing behaviour and through whole school assemblies. Pupils are taught the value and reasons behind laws, that they govern and protect us, the responsibilities that this involves and the consequences when laws are broken. Regular ‘Project Britain’ challenges are set dealing with topics such as ‘Democracy’, ‘Parliament’, ‘Elections’ and the social and cultural make-up of Great Britain. Visits from authorities such as the Police and the Fire Service; are regular parts of our calendar and help reinforce this message. Upper Key Stage 2 children are trained annually by West Midlands Police to be Junior Neighbourhood Watch members. Pupils are involved in deciding class rules and play an active role in the formulation e.g positive behaviour policy and SMSC outcomes. The school actively promotes the UN Charter of the Child.

Individual Liberty:

Within school, pupils are actively encouraged to make choices, knowing that they are in a safe and supportive environment. As a school we educate and provide boundaries for young pupils to make choices safety, through of provision of a safe environment and empowering education. Pupils are encouraged to know, understand and exercise their rights and personal freedoms and advise how to exercise these safely, for example through our E-Safety and PSHE lessons. Whether it be through choice of challenge, of how they record, of participation in our numerous extra-curricular clubs and opportunities, pupils are given the freedom to make choices and to respect the decisions and choices of others. Upper Key Stage 2 pupils also undertake Sex Education lessons – discussing issues such as puberty, emotional and hormonal changes and keeping ourselves clean. In addition, from 2015, after SATS,Year 6 pupils will also be undertaking a transition unit ‘Real Love Rocks’ which promotes positive emotional relationships and how to spot the signs of coercive or unhealthy relationships.

Mutual Respect:

Our whole school ethos is firmly rooted in respectful relationships – child to child, adult to child, child to adult and adult to adult. We vigorously challenge those, including parents/carers and members of the wider community, who fail to demonstrate respect. We undertake regular assemblies and discussions relating to what this means and how it is shown. Posters around the school promote respect and positive behaviour for others and this is reiterated through our classroom and learning rules, as well as our behaviour policy. Pupils will challenge each other when not showing respect and encourage each other to be respectful. They will work particularly hard to support new members of the school to understand and follow our expectation.

The whole school has also begun a four-year project to coincide with the 100 anniversary of the beginning of the First World War. Annually, from November 2014-18, all children will undertake a week-long WW1 themed week. There is a semi-permanent display in the school hall, which will be altered after each year’s topic is completed.

Tolerance of those of Different Faiths and Beliefs:

This is achieved through enhancing pupils understanding of their place in a culturally diverse society and by giving them opportunities to experience such diversity. Assemblies and discussions involving prejudices and prejudice-based bullying have been followed and supported by learning in RE and PSHE. Children and family members of different faiths or religions are encouraged to share their knowledge to enhance learning within classes and the school. This has also included family members coming in to talk to children. Through our RE curriculum, which teachers the main faiths and focuses upon learning about religion and learning from religion, we promote tolerance of the beliefs of others. The Chair of Governors is also the Parish Priest and holds monthly whole-school assemblies.